The Sebastian Inlet was busy with visitors last weekend, though the fish weren’t biting much for those trying to catch them.
After about a month of closure, the North Jetty is accessible again, and the pier’s old wooden structures have been replaced with grates, making it easier for anglers who were eager to start fishing early this morning.
Regarding the previous weekend’s fishing conditions, Wayne “Snookman” Landry, a frequent visitor to the inlet, described the activity as subdued and noted the water was too chilly for snook, a type of fish, to be active, despite the pleasant weather.
Landry pointed out that snook prefer water temperatures between 70-82 degrees Fahrenheit, with 77 degrees being ideal. However, recent temperatures have lingered in the 60s.
Fishermen have observed schools of threadfin herring in the inlet, and a few snook have been caught using live shrimp, but catches have been sparse. There have also been occasional catches of redfish and small bluefish using spoons.
The optimal time for fishing at Sebastian Inlet are during the high tide or when the tide is going out, especially at the tip of the jetty.
Fishing conditions have been similarly slow at the South jetty and in surf areas, with the cold and murky water being a deterrent. One fisherman reported spending half of Saturday without much success, managing only to catch a snook that was too small to keep, attributing the overall slow fishing to the winter season.
Fishing Forecast
The weather forecast promises warmer temperatures, reaching 77 and 80 degrees later this week, despite south winds of 5 to 15 mph, with possible gusts up to 20 mph.
For those willing to brave the winds, the best fishing days are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with Friday also promising despite the potential for rain as the weekend approaches.
A complete weather forecast will be available by Thursday on our YouTube Channel.